Local News

Dog shot, found tied to Illinois bridge

A dog found shot and left tied to a bridge in Ford County is showing signs of improving. The News-Gazette reports the dog was discovered last week (April 20) near Sibley.

Ford County Sheriff Mark Doran reported a man walking his own dog found the dog. Doran said the Labrador mix (known as Bear) was tied to a high spot on the bridge so he could just touch his paws to the ground. The dog's mouth was duct-taped closed. He had been shot with a shot gun and had a broken jaw. Reports indicated neighbors know who the dog belonged to and an investigation continues.

A Gibson City Veterinarian Clinic helped treat Bear. A spokesperson said Bear's jaw is too badly broken for surgery and he needs a feeding tube. But Bear is expected to recover. {Reprinted from Champaign News-Gazette}

‘Take Back the Night’ in Watseka tonight

It's time again to take a stand against sexual violence. The 3rd annual 'Take Back the Night" event this (Wed) evening Watseka is asking advocates, survivors and supporters to come together.

ISAS – Iroquois Sexual Assault Services welcomes the public at the First United Methodist Church at 6 pm.

Kami Garrison is ISAS Prevention Coordinator. She tells 94.1 WGFA "this part of a nationwide initiative to show support of victims and survivors. The hope is that people come together to show support and understanding."

ISAS clients, bravely, share their stories to kick-off a short walk to promote the educational initiative.

ISAS Legal Advocate Joelle Connor-Nelson says 'Take Back the Night" includes brave survivors who are not afraid to share their experience.

"A short walk in downtown Watseka to let the community know we are taking a stand against sexual assault," Conner-Nelson said.

Additional info is always available, as are Crisis Hotline Volunteers. Contact the ISAS office in Watseka at 815-432-2779 OR the KC-CASA office in Kankakee at 815-932-7273.

ISAS also promoted Sexual Assault Awareness Month with its Clothesline Display Project. Laundry items have been on display outside the Courthouse in Watseka. T-shirts on display represent healing for some – MESSAGES REPRESENT THE IMPACT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON THE COMMUNITY.

Watseka Public Works employees get new 3-year contract

Public Works employees in Watseka have a new three-year pact with the city.

Union workers represented by Local 751 will see a 2.5 percent raise in each year of the contract. General laborers' will get a pay hike up to $13 per hour. That's the minimum pay. Maintenance and clerical positions are bumped up to $11 an hour.

Veteran employees will also be paid an additional per-hour increase of 50-cents.

Fatal Kankakee fire brings murder and arson charges

Investigators say the motive was revenge. And a 61-year-old man now is charged with murder and arson for the Kankakee fire that killed two young boys.

Alex Sawyer has been arrested for the April 13th fire that resulted in the deaths of 2-year-old Ju'Shaun Watson and 4-year-old Justice Stewart. Both boys died at Chicago area hospitals of injuries suffered in the fire on W. Station Street in Kankakee.

Sawyer is charged with two-counts of murder and 8-counts of aggravated arson.

Five civilians and three firefighters were also treated for injuries.

Kankakee Fire Department Arson Investigators and Kankakee Police Detectives determined the cause of the fire at 894 W. Station Street to be arson. Several people were interviewed and evidence was collected since the fire.

A press release from the Kankakee Fire Department did not state Sawyer's connection to the victims. Although revenge is mentioned as a motive, no further details were disclosed.

Agencies involved in the case included Kankakee Fire and Police, the Office of the State Fire Marshall, Illinois State Police and the Kankakee County State's Attorney's Office.

Watseka man killed in Kankakee County crash

Forty-seven-year-old Earl Blair of Watseka died in a single-car crash Monday.

It happened on Route 1/17 at Kankakee County Road 7940 E. just before 4:40 pm. Illinois State Police report the car ran off the road and hit a utility pole. The victim was pronounced dead at Riverside Hospital.